MGM Japan’s president and CEO Ed Bowers acknowledges the apprehensions surrounding the introduction of casino gambling in Japan, particularly as the country prepares to launch its first integrated resort in Osaka, which carries the world’s highest estimated price tag. Speaking from MGM's Osaka office, Bowers says, "There’s a lot of trepidation about being the first to have this very large casino in Japan, and the issues it could bring, and we understand all of this." Yet, he also recognizes the local excitement as Osaka, often seen as Japan's second city, steps into a pioneering role.
MGM Osaka has been in development for over a decade, with an anticipated opening in late 2030. This venture is a collaboration between MGM Resorts International and Orix Group, featuring an integrated resort estimated to cost ¥1.5 trillion (approximately US$9.5 billion). The resort is being constructed on Yumeshima island, also the future site of World Expo 2025, which has generally been welcomed by the local community.
Accessibility to the resort is a priority, with significant infrastructure developments underway. An Osaka subway station, partly funded by MGM Osaka, opened in January last year for Expo visitors and is conveniently positioned near the integrated resort site. Additionally, Kintetsu Group, a key local investor with a 12% stake in MGM Osaka, plans to provide direct train services connecting Yumeshima to Nara, a well-known tourist destination located 45 kilometers (28 miles) to the east. Plans for a ferry and cruise ship terminal, along with a bus depot, are also in development.
MGM Osaka is currently Japan’s largest construction project, expanding over a 49-hectare (122-acre) site where concrete mixers and workers regularly operate. The construction process includes measures to counter liquefaction and stabilize the ground. The total floor space dedicated to the integrated resort will be 780,000 square meters (8.4 million square feet), as stated in the July 31 update of the area development plan, which is prepared annually by Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, and MGM Osaka, published in Japanese.
The structure of MGM Osaka features a significant architectural milestone with steel girders marking the outline of its tallest building, planned to be 27 stories high. This facility will house two hotels and a casino, encompassing 2,500 guest rooms, with over 20% dedicated to suite accommodations ranging from 105 to 150 square meters across three hotels.
In terms of convention space, MGM Osaka anticipates housing one of the largest MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions) facilities in Japan. This will include 400,000 square feet (36,171 square meters) for conference activities and 330,000 square feet for exhibitions, complemented by a 3,500-seat theater. Bowers expressed confidence in attracting MICE events, citing MGM’s extensive experience in managing such activities, noting, "We know how to run MICE."
Tourism attractions are also stipulated in the regulations governing integrated resorts, albeit with less specificity. Bowers elaborated that a required tourism attraction center will serve three core functions: providing concierge services to explain local attractions, offering ticket purchasing capabilities for events, and facilitating transportation for visitors. He emphasized that this focus on tourism reflects Japan’s intent to use the integrated resort as a "tourism multiplier."
Last year, Japan recorded 42.68 million international arrivals, and despite global challenges including regional political tensions affecting visitors from mainland China, the country is on track to attract more than 41 million tourists this year. The government aims for 60 million arrivals by 2030, though this goal has been revisited to mitigate issues like overtourism in places such as Kyoto, situated 63 kilometers northeast of Yumeshima.
Bowers stated, "We’re honour-bound to think about how we can work with Japan to ensure we focus on their tourism policies, because tourism policies are at the heart of what we have to do for Japan. The quid pro quo is we get a casino, which is where we’ll make all our money."
The gaming area in MGM Osaka is limited to 3% of total floor space, amounting to 23,400 square meters. For Japanese nationals, there will be a ¥6,000 entry fee, valid for 24 hours, with restrictions on visits: three times within seven days and ten times over a 28-day period. Current estimates in the area development plan project annual revenue for the integrated resort at ¥520 billion, with gaming revenue expected to contribute ¥420 billion (or US$2.65 billion), comparable to Sands China's Venetian Macao complex in recent years. Bowers anticipates that half of the revenue will originate from Japanese customers.
Chris Wieners, managing partner at Hogo, remarked, "As Japan’s first and only casino, MGM Osaka carries more than its own business case. How it operates will shape how regulators, local governments, and the public view any future integrated resorts." Pham Thanh Trung, a planner with the Osaka International Business Promotion Council, noted, "From a citizens’ perspective, we face uncertainties, especially related to hosting the first casino in Japan."
Wieners pointed out Japan’s existing gaming culture, highlighted by pachinko and various amusement avenues which attracted ¥8,874 billion in legal betting last year — including notable spending on horse racing. He contrasted this to the perception of casinos in Japan, which historically lacked the same social acceptance.
In dealing with responsible gaming, Bowers acknowledged the important balance that the city of Osaka is attempting to achieve. "They want to lead Japan and possibly the world in problem gambling efforts," he stated, announcing MGM's commitment to a robust responsible gaming program adopted from US practices, adapted to local frameworks.
As Japan’s first integrated resort approaches its anticipated 2030 launch on Yumeshima, the hope remains that it will blend entertainment and responsible gaming in a model that Japan can embrace as its own.
